#BrainUp Daily Tech News – (Wednesday, November 12ᵗʰ)

Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2025/11/12. Our Hand-picked, AI-optimized system has processed and summarized 18 articles from all over the internet to bring you the latest technology news.

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1. Google says new cloud-based private AI compute is just as secure as local processing

Google has introduced a new cloud-based private AI compute solution, which it claims offers security measures equivalent to local on-device processing. This technology leverages confidential computing techniques to ensure that data remains encrypted and isolated during AI computations in the cloud, preventing unauthorized access. By integrating hardware-based security features, Google aims to address common concerns about privacy and data breaches in cloud environments. The approach allows organizations to harness advanced AI capabilities without sacrificing data confidentiality, enhancing trust in cloud AI deployments. This development aligns with growing industry demands for secure, scalable AI infrastructure that balances performance with stringent privacy requirements.


2. J.P. Morgan calls out AI spend, says $650 billion in annual revenue required to deliver mere 10% return on AI buildout — equivalent to $35 payment from every iPhone user, or $180 from every Netflix subscriber ‘in perpetuity’

A J.P. Morgan CAPEX report argues that delivering a 10% ROI on #AI investments through 2030 would require about $650B in annual revenue, reframing AI spend as a need for massive scale. That revenue would translate to roughly $34.72 per month from every iPhone user or $180 from every Netflix subscriber, with the revenue ultimately coming from individuals, enterprises, and government buyers. The analysis warns growth may not be smooth, drawing a parallel to telecom and fiber rollouts, and notes that @Sam Altman discussed this with @Satya Nadella in a podcast, while OpenAI’s ~$20B annualized run-rate and Anthropic’s $26B by 2026 target have not yet produced sustained profits. It also warns that an unexpected breakthrough could drive compute overcapacity, leaving large data centers idle and billions at stake, a risk echoed by @PatGelsinger who has warned about disruption to the service-provider ecosystem. Regardless of whether the AI bubble bursts, the report says there will be spectacular winners and losers in a winner-takes-all landscape, with potential market-wide effects if demand lags.


3. Windows president confirms OS will become AI agentic, generates pushback online

Microsoft’s Windows president confirmed that future versions of Windows 11 will incorporate more agentic AI features, meaning the OS will take proactive actions on behalf of users rather than only responding to commands. This direction aims to elevate user experience by making AI an integrated assistant within the system. However, many users reacted negatively online, expressing concerns about autonomy, privacy, and unforeseen AI behavior. The tension highlights the challenge Microsoft faces in balancing innovation with user trust and control. As Windows evolves, the company will need to carefully manage AI integration to ensure transparency and user comfort.


4. Apple unveils $229 iPhone Pocket described as ‘a piece of cloth’

@Apple teams up with @IsseyMiyake to launch the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition fabric sleeve described as a piece of cloth that blurs the line between a tech accessory and fashion. Made in Japan through a #3D-knitting process inspired by Miyake’s pleats, it’s designed to fit any iPhone and other small items, with a short-strap version priced at $149.95 and a long-strap version at $229.95, available starting November 14 on apple.com and in select stores in Japan, France, the UK, the U.S. and beyond. The pricing and concept fuel debate about luxury minimalism and the value of designer-inspired tech gear. This turn toward fashion-tech shows how heritage design can shape product accessories and everyday carry, signaling a broader trend in blending #fashiontech with consumer devices.


5. Sony made an official 240Hz PlayStation monitor with a built-in DualSense charging hook

Sony has introduced a new official PlayStation monitor featuring a 240Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz display panel designed for fast-paced gaming. The monitor includes a unique built-in charging hook specifically designed to hold and charge the DualSense controller, addressing both convenience and functionality for PlayStation gamers. This design enhances the gaming experience by ensuring that controllers are always charged and ready while providing a smooth, high-performance visual output suitable for competitive gaming. The product reflects Sony’s commitment to creating tailored hardware that integrates seamlessly with the PlayStation ecosystem. This new monitor offers players a dedicated solution that combines high refresh rate display technology with practical accessories to optimize gameplay.


6. Leaker claims iPhone 18 Pro will fix an unpopular design choice

An @Instant_Digital leak suggests Apple will fix the unpopular two-tone back design in the iPhone 18 Pro by better matching the aluminum and glass colors. The iPhone 17 Pro’s back used a two-tone glass-and-aluminum mix to accommodate the wireless charging cutout, a choice that drew polarized reactions despite the popular cosmic orange option. The proposed change would rely on the back glass replacement process to minimize the color difference with the aluminum, aiming for a more seamless unibody look. Even with improvements, perfect parity may be impossible due to the different properties of glass and aluminum, but a sizable reduction in the visual gap would be widely welcomed. This potential refinement reflects Apple’s ongoing pattern of iterative design tweaks for the #iPhone lineup, a topic of discussion among observers like @Chance_Miller and 9to5Mac readers.


7. Microsoft November 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes 1 zero-day, 63 flaws

Microsoft’s November 2025 Patch Tuesday addressed 64 vulnerabilities across its products, including one zero-day actively exploited in the wild. The zero-day, CVE-2025-xxxx, is a critical remote code execution flaw in Microsoft Exchange Server that attackers have used to compromise systems. In total, the update resolves 26 critical, 36 important, and 2 moderate severity issues affecting Windows, Exchange Server, SQL Server, and more. These patches reinforce security by fixing vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to gain system control, execute code remotely, or bypass security features. Users and organizations are urged to apply these updates promptly to protect against exploitation and enhance their cyber defenses.


8. Google Pixel update adds battery-saving maps mode, AI photo remixing, and smarter notifications | TechCrunch

Google’s November Pixel Drop from @Google delivers updates to extend battery life, improve notification handling, and enable AI‑driven media edits on Pixel devices. A new low‑power Maps mode darkens the display and shows only essential information like the route and next turn, with Google claiming up to four hours of battery savings on the Pixel 10 series #Maps #PowerSaving. Notifications get smarter with summaries for longer conversations, a forthcoming option to silence low‑priority alerts, and prioritized updates for Pixel VIPs, echoing competition with @Apple’s Priority Notification feature #NotificationSummaries #PriorityNotification. In Messages, Remix uses the on‑device Gemini Nano and the Nano Banana image model to reimagine photos from prompts, while a ‘Likely a scam’ indicator expands scam detection to additional regions #Remix #GeminiNano #NanoBanana #Messages. The update also adds an AI editing flow in Google Photos and a crisis badge in the contacts widget as part of #PixelVIPs, signaling a broader effort to keep Pixel devices competitive.


9. Sony Announces Cheaper Japanese-Language Only PS5 Just for Japan – IGN

Sony unveiled a cheaper, Japanese-language-only PS5 Digital Edition for Japan, priced at 55,000 yen (~$350) and due for release on November 21, 2025, revealed during State of Play Japan. The 825GB model follows a Nintendo-style approach by offering a language-specific, lower-price option, and it was announced alongside other hardware such as a 27-inch PlayStation Monitor. In US terms, the base PS5 with a disc drive is $549.99, the PS5 Digital Edition is $499.99, and the PS5 Pro is $749.99, with all prices having risen in August, underscoring a strategy to expand sales and the userbase. Sony reported 84.2 million PS5 units sold by the five-year mark and 3.9 million units shipped in the three months ending September 30, leaving the PS5 slightly behind the PS4’s five-year total of 86.1 million. This move signals @Wesley_Yin-Poole’s reporting of Sony’s ongoing push to grow PS5 adoption in Japan #PS5 #Japan.


10. FFmpeg to Google: Fund Us or Stop Sending Bugs

FFmpeg to Google: Fund Us or Stop Sending Bugs captures a lively Twitter debate about open source funding, security, and who pays for maintenance, anchored by the provocative call implied in its title. The accompanying description notes that the discussion centers on open source, security, and funding models, highlighting tensions among contributors, users, and platforms. This situation underlines the economics of sustaining critical tooling, where funding decisions can influence bug reporting and security improvements in projects like FFmpeg. The piece frames the debate within broader conversations about #open_source and #security, suggesting that funding mechanisms may be key to reliability and accountability in widely used software.


11. Astronomers detect first radio signal from interstellar comet 3I/’Oumuamua but it wasn’t aliens

Astronomers recorded the first radio signal from the interstellar comet 3I/’Oumuamua using a radio telescope, initially sparking speculation about alien technology. The signal was identified as natural emissions produced by the interaction of solar wind with the comet’s ionized gas coma, rather than any artificial source. This discovery offers insight into #interstellarcomet properties and their behavior when entering our solar system, enhancing understanding of these rare cosmic visitors. The findings highlight the value of radio observations in comet studies and help differentiate between natural and potential artificial signals in space. Such research can improve the search for extraterrestrial intelligence by clarifying expected natural radio emissions from interstellar objects.


12. ‘Big Short’ investor Michael Burry accuses AI hyperscalers of artificially boosting earnings

@MichaelBurry contends that #hyperscalers in cloud and #AI infrastructure are artificially boosting earnings by extending the useful life of compute assets, effectively understating depreciation. He says this depreciation manipulation comes from estimating longer asset lifetimes for chips and servers, which would keep yearly depreciation (and thus net income) lower than it should be. Burry estimates that from 2026 through 2028 the practice would understate depreciation by about $176 billion, inflating reported earnings industrywide, with Oracle and Meta singled out as potentially overstating profits by roughly 27% and 21% by 2028. The claim hinges on #GAAP allowances for depreciation estimates and faces challenges proving the practice, with CNBC noting it could not independently verify these claims and Nvidia declining to comment. The post aligns with his broader warnings about AI enthusiasm mirroring a late 1990s tech bubble and follows his recent wagers against Nvidia and Palantir, underscoring a debate over whether accounting choices could distort AI driven profits.


13. AI legal start-up backed by Revolut founder chased over unpaid debt

An AI-driven legal start-up, financially supported by Revolut’s founder @NikolayStoronsky, is facing controversy over an unpaid debt. The company aimed to revolutionize legal access through #artificialintelligence but has been pursued due to financial disputes. The unpaid debt highlights challenges tech start-ups can encounter despite high-profile backing, raising questions about sustainability and accountability in the emerging #AIbusiness sector. This situation underscores the complexities start-ups face balancing innovation and financial stability amid rapid growth ambitions.


14. Scientists create world’s first microwave-powered computer chip — it’s much faster and consumes less power than conventional CPUs

A team led by @Bal Govind reports the world’s first fully functional microwave neural network chip that uses analog microwaves instead of digital circuitry to perform operations, offering faster processing and lower power consumption than conventional CPUs for #AI and wireless tasks. The chip can solve simple logic operations and more complex computations, such as recognizing binary sequences, with about 88% accuracy across several wireless signal classification challenges, while operating at tens of gigahertz for at least 20 billion operations per second. As co-senior author @Alyssa Apsel explains, this design abandons a direct digital neural network structure in favor of a controlled mush of frequency behaviors that yields high performance with less overhead #microwave_neural_network. The microwave brain uses interconnected electromagnetic nodes within tunable waveguides to identify patterns in datasets and adapt to incoming information, enabling high-bandwidth applications such as radar imaging #radar_imaging. The researchers suggest this approach could be repurposed for future AI systems or wireless communications, indicating a potential shift away from conventional digital circuitry.


15. Threads targets podcasters with new features, aiming to become the home for show discussions | TechCrunch

Threads aims to become the go-to place for podcast discussions by adding features that help creators promote shows and foster conversations. It will highlight podcast links in the feed with colorful backgrounds and thumbnails and gives creators a dedicated spot in their profile to add a podcast link. Meta says these tools will also include deeper analytics on how conversations around shows resonate with fans, and it plans to improve discovery and connect podcasters and listeners through conversations. The company stresses it does not intend to be a podcast distribution platform, but to deepen engagement around podcasts, potentially narrowing the gap with X. This strategy signals Threads’ broader push to monetize and differentiate from competing platforms by focusing on the podcast community @Meta #podcasts #podcasting.


16. Kia is letting drivers turn their dashboards into Disney and Star Wars displays

Kia has introduced a feature allowing drivers to customize their vehicle dashboards with themes from Disney and Star Wars, enhancing the driving experience through personalization. This update offers unique visual displays based on popular franchises like Star Wars and various Disney characters, providing entertainment and a fresh look inside the car. The initiative showcases Kia’s commitment to integrating technology and pop culture, appealing to fans and enriching the vehicle’s digital interface. By incorporating such customizable elements, Kia strengthens brand engagement and differentiates its vehicles in a competitive market. This innovative approach reflects trends in automotive design where user experience and customization are increasingly prioritized.


17. The Algorithmic Presidency

Just as 20th-century fascists used radio and film, the piece argues, today’s ideologues deploy memes, social media, and especially #AI to extend their influence. It traces a line from @Caesar and the denarii to recent proposals to mint a $1 coin with @Donald Trump’s portrait and even to the idea of $250 bills, noting that Congress forbade placing living people on currency. The aesthetic power of currency and imagery exposes an authoritarian creep at odds with republican values, a dynamic reinforced by #thinktanks that blur politics and mythology. Thus, the article argues, currency, memes, and iconography become instruments of political myth that threaten democratic norms.


18. DHS Is Deploying a Powerful Surveillance Tool at College Football Games

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new surveillance technology at college football games to enhance security measures and monitor crowds more effectively. This tool uses advanced facial recognition and data analysis capabilities to identify potential threats in real time, aiming to prevent violence and ensure public safety. Critics raise concerns about privacy infringements and the potential misuse of personal data, emphasizing the importance of regulations and transparency in deploying such technologies. This deployment reflects a broader trend of integrating sophisticated surveillance systems in public events, balancing the need for security with civil liberties. The initiative illustrates the government’s focus on innovative approaches to counter threats in dynamic environments like sports events.


That’s all for today’s digest for 2025/11/12! We picked, and processed 18 Articles. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s collection of insights and discoveries.

Thanks, Patricia Zougheib and Dr Badawi, for curating the links

See you in the next one! 🚀